John McCain supports stronger Vietnam-US ties

McCain, a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, was speaking at a reception in Hanoi on August 8 given by NA Chairman Nguyen Sinh Hung.  

Senator Sheldon Whitehouse, a member of the Committees on the Budget, the Judiciary, Environment and Public Works, Health, Education, Labour, and Pensions, also attended the meeting.

McCain voiced his support for the lifting of a US ban on lethal weapons sales to Vietnam and said after the visit he and Senator Whitehouse would ask the US Congress to remove the ban as soon as possible.

NA Chairman Nguyen Sinh Hung (first from right) welcomed Senators John McCain and  Sheldon Whitehouse in Hanoi on August 8

Both Senators agreed that the two countries need to tighten cooperation, especially in security and national defence, internet security and construction of hydro power projects.

McCain noted the upcoming signing of free trade agreements, especially the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPP), will create plenty of opportunity for each country and the whole region to increase trade.

For his part, NA Chairman Hung acknowledged McCain’s substantial contributions to Vietnam-US cooperation over the years, from normalising bilateral ties in 1995 to boosting cooperation in various areas.

He appreciated the Senators’ goodwill towards Vietnam and expressed his hope both countries will continue maintaining high-level visit exchanges to mark 20 years of diplomacy in 2015.

At the meeting, both sides discussed issues of mutual concern, including the East Sea issue, and expressed their concern about China’s recent violation of international law by towing its giant drilling platform Haiyang Shiyou-981 to Vietnam’s exclusive economic zone and continental shelf in the East Sea.

They said China’s move has affected international security and maritime safety and threatened peace and stability in the region and the world.

Senator McCain said the US is willing to assist Vietnam in improving the capacity of forces at sea and training staff in this area.

Chairman Hung stressed that Vietnam which has experienced many past wars and suffered numerous losses wants to maintain peace and build ties of friendship and broad cooperation with all countries in the world, in order to develop the nation and improve the people’s living conditions.

He thanked McCain, Whitehouse and other US Congress people for their practical actions to support Vietnam in defending its sovereignty in accordance to international law, for peace and prosperity in the region and the world.